National League Roundup : Garrelts Saves the Night for Giants

Scott Garrelts is the ultimate team player. Whatever the San Francisco Giants require of him, the 24-year-old right-hander is willing to do.

Last season, they needed him in the bullpen and he responded by becoming the team’s best relief pitcher. This spring, Manager Roger Craig put Garrelts into the starting rotation, where he helped pitch the Giants into contention.

But at midseason, Craig decided Garrelts would be more valuable in the bullpen. Reportedly without a murmur of protest, Garrelts returned to being the top reliever.

Once again, Garrelts is a reason the Giants are still in contention in the National League West. They appear to be the only team capable of challenging the Houston Astros.

Garrelts turned in another sparkling relief performance Tuesday night to help the Giants outlast the Reds, 2-1, at Cincinnati and remain four games behind the Astros.

Garrelts, the fourth Giant pitcher, pitched 2 scoreless innings to save another one for Vida Blue (9-6). The Giants scored the decisive run when Red shortstop Kurt Stillwell booted Dan Gladden’s bases-loaded grounder with two out in the sixth inning, allowing Bob Melvin to score from third to break a 1-1 tie.

This was Garrelts’ 15th appearance since Craig took him out of the starting rotation in early July. Already, Garrelts has won four games and saved four others. He has been hit hard only twice, both times in situations that did the Giants no harm.

Last Saturday night at Atlanta, Garrelts proved his value to the team. It had been a long, rainy night, and the Giant bullpen was depleted. Garrelts was on the mound in the bottom of the 10th trying to preserve a two-run lead. Reaching down to clear some of the mud off the mound, Garrelts tore a nail on his pitching hand.

He tried to go on pitching but could throw only fastballs. The bases were loaded, two were out and fastball-hitting sluggers Dale Murphy and Bob Horner were due up.

Craig came out to the mound, looked at Garrelts’ finger, shook his head and let Garrelts continue. On an 0-and-2 count, Garrelts hit Murphy, forcing in a run. But he disposed of Horner on a pop-up.

“He’s a valuable member of our team,” Craig said of Garrelts. “Everyone has the winning attitude and that’s why we don’t give up. We’re in the race to stay.”

San Diego 4, Atlanta 3--Bruce Bochy hit a two-run double that highlighted a three-run seventh inning at Atlanta and lifted the Padres out of a last-place tie with the Braves in the West.

Going into the seventh, the Padres’ LaMarr Hoyt and the Braves’ Zane Smith were locked in a scoreless battle.

Hoyt (6-8) had lost four times since his last victory, July 13. He pitched six scoreless innings this time but was chased in the seventh. Rich Gossage pitched the last two innings and gave up the final Atlanta run in gaining his 20th save.

It was only the third time in 12 games that the Padres beat the Braves this season.

Philadelphia 3, New York 1--Phillie starter Kevin Gross insists he wasn’t worried when the Mets’ Len Dykstra led off the game at Philadelphia with a home run.

“It just made me bear down,” said Gross, who gave up only five more hits, struck out 10 and improved his record to 8-9. “I just went out and pitched the best I’ve pitched this season.

“I won it because I made good pitches to Keith Hernandez and Gary Carter.”

Hernandez, who had set a Met record by driving in a run in each of the previous eight games, left a runner on third base three times in this one in making the last out in an inning. Carter hit into a double play the only time he didn’t lead off an inning.

Gross also won it because Von Hayes tripled in two runs in the third inning and made a loser of Rick Aguilera. Although he gave up only two hits in six innings, Aguilera lost for the first time since May 1.

Chicago 3, Pittsburgh 1--In the battle of the cellar clubs in the East at Chicago, Leon Durham and Lee Smith took charge for the Cubs.

Durham hit a home run and drove in two runs, and Smith pitched two scoreless innings to earn his 22nd save.

Just before the game, Smith learned he would become a father for the first time.

“I guess I was a little pumped up,” Smith said, “because my wife and I have been hoping for a baby. Now, we are excited.”

Durham donates $750 to a Chicago High School for every home run he hits. He has donated $7,500 this season.

Montreal 10, St. Louis 3--Rookie Bob Sebra is not likely to soon forget this game at Montreal. He not only pitched his first complete game but he also got his first two big league hits to aid a 16-hit attack.

The Expos jumped on John Tudor (11-6) for seven runs and seven hits in just more than an inning. Tudor had won five games in a row, and the Cardinals had won 18 of 24.

Andre Dawson and Tim Raines were the big guns for the Expos. Each had three hits and drove in four runs.